When is a defensive foul a good thing? When it prevents your team from losing. That's exactly what Pasadena City College men's basketball wing Jonathan Tchengang did in the final second of regulation Tuesday night.
Tied 61-61, Tchengang had his 3-point shot attempt blocked by El Camino's Gabe Hubbard, who then had a clear and easy path the other way to what should have been the winning basket for his Warriors. Instead, a heads up Tchengang fouled Hubbard on a layup attempt right before the second-half buzzer. It at least allowed the Lancers a chance and Hubbard obliged PCC by missing the ensuing two free throws.
Instead of a tough loss, the Lancers got new life and turned the South Coast Conference crossover into a 74-72 victory in double overtime. Playing in front of large family contingent from out of town, Tchengang was the star for PCC as he scored his season high of 24 points with 11 rebounds, four steals and four assists.
Rande Harper's 10-foot baseline jumper with 31 seconds left in the second, 5-minute OT period gave PCC a 72-70 lead. Shant Chenorhavorian added a pair of free throws with six seconds left to seal the hard-fought triumph. Myles Watkins scored 18 points with eight assists, six rebounds and three steals, Nurridin Abdur-Rahmann tallied 13 points, nine boards and three steals off the bench and Harper netted 10 points.
PCC played without two starters and two reserves who were not dressed due to team disciplanary reasons. The Lancers used a relentless full-court defense that forced El Camino into 37 turnovers and resulted in the team making a season-high 19 steals.
"Really proud of how the team battled tonight and gutted out a win," said PCC first-year head coach Ryan Frazer, who has directed the squad's 9-6 start to the season. "Having guys out and having others step up was huge for us. I like that we stayed together and never quit. Game by game, I feel we are learning to win and slowly putting it together."
PCC rallied from down 22-14 to take a 31-30 halftime lead. In the second half and overtime (30 minutes in all), the teams would tie each other on 12 occasions and the lead changed hands an additional 12 times.
Prior to the last-second sequence to end the second half, Tchengang sank a 3-pointer from the top of the arc for a 61-59 Lancers lead. Hubbard countered with a layup with 26 seconds left to tie it.
The teams traded two free throws each that sent the contest to a second overtime at 65-65. Trailing 68-65, Tchengang launched another 3 from just beyond the center of the arc to tie it with 3:11 left in the fourth period. Behind again at 70-68, Tchengang made a steal and layup that knotted it again with two minutes to go. Harper and Chenorhavorian then took care of things from there for PCC's eighth win in its last 11 games.
El Camino's Billy Ray Barnes III kept his team in the game with 27 points, 17 rebounds and six assists. The Warriors dropped to 9-5 on the season.
At the game's finish, Tchengang's family and friends came on to the floor as the entire Lancers team mobbed the sophomore transfer from MiraCosta in celebration.
"Jonathan's parents are from Camaroon, but he had family from all over here-from Paris, from Las Vegas and from Norway. I think they were all pretty happy with the end result as he had a big effort," Frazer said.
Although unranked in the State Top 30 coaches poll, the Lancers look to extend their current 3-game win streak when they next play at #17 Mt. San Jacinto on Friday, Dec. 30 (6 p.m.).